Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons^™

The Effects Of Diet On The Biochemical Constituents Of Beef, Kimberly A. Varnold, Chris R. Calkins, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, Lasika S. Senaratne-Lenagala, Justine J. Stevenson, Michelle E. Semler, Michael D. Chao, Tommi F. Jones, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred steers (n = 64) were grazed on warm- or cool-season grasses, without or with energy supplementation of wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS), and were finished on a corn-based diet with or without 35% WDGS. Grass-type was the major contributor in determining the biochemical composition of L. dorsi steaks, with warm-season grasses causing increased concentrations of moisture and zinc and decreased concentrations of magnesium. Aging 28 days instead of 7 days increased pH and caused an increased concentration of carbohydrates, and non-heme and heme iron in B. femoris steaks. Diet, especially grass type, during grazing, can alter the end …

Grass Type, Grazing Supplementation, And Finishing Diets Affect Beef Fatty Acids, Kimberly A. Varnold, Chris R. Calkins, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, Lasika S. Senaratne-Lenagala, Tommi F. Jones, Timothy P. Carr, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Crossbred steers (n = 64) were grazed on warm- or cool-season grasses, without or with energy supplementation of wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS), and were finished on a corn-based diet with or without 35% WDGS. Grass type was the major contributor in determining the fatty acid profile, especially in the neutral lipid layer. Warm-season grasses decreased concentrations of most fatty acids compared to cool-season grasses. The provision of WDGS as an energy supplement while grazing dissipated any differences caused by grass type.

Vein Steak Differences In Strip Loins Of Heifers Due To Mutation Of The Myostatin Gene, Michelle E. Semler, Chris R. Calkins, Galen E. Erickson Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Strip loins from heifers with variations of the myostatin gene; 19 homozygous dominant (Angus), 20 heterozygous dominant (Angus x Piedmontese), and 20 homozygous recessive (Piedmontese) were studied. Strip loins were cut into 1-inch thick steaks and total number of steaks and number of steaks with Gluteusmedius (often called vein steaks) were recorded. Strip loins from heterozygous dominant heifershad a greater number of non-vein steaks and decreased percentage of vein steaks compared to homozygous dominant and homozygous recessive samples. Differences in percentage of vein steaks were inconsistent and showed no meaningful pattern.

Effect Of Feeding Distillers Grains And Supplementing With Dietary Antioxidants On Ground Beef Color During Retail Display, Brandy D. Cleveland, Chad G. Bower, Amy L. Redfield Redfield, Gary A. Sullivan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Ground beef patties from cattle fed corn-based diets with no wet distillers grains (control), wet distillers grains (WDGS), WDGS + 1000 IU/head/day vitamin E, WDGS + 150 ppm/head/day, Ethoxyquin/TBHQ (Agrado Plus, Novus International, St. Louis, Mo.), or WDGS + 500 IU/head/day vitamin E + 150 ppm/head/day Ethoxyquin/TBHQ during the finishing phase were compared to analyze color stability during retail display. As display time increased, patties from all dietary treatments had greater discoloration and became darker, less red, and more yellow. Therefore, beef patties discolored during retail display, but the rate and degree of discoloration were unaffected by diet or antioxidant …

Effect Of Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Supplementation On Grazing Cattle Performance, Tyler L. Hasenauer, Terry J. Klopfenstein, James C. Macdonald Donald, Cody J. Schneider, Dirk B. Burken

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Yearlings rotationally grazing smooth bromegrass were individually supplemented modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) at .05, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8% BW. Gain increased quadratically as MDGS level increased. Maximal ADG (2.95 lb/d) was predicted when supplementing level of 0.48% of BW. Economic analysis compared 0, 2, and 5 lb (DM) MDGS supplementation. When cattle ownership was retained through the feeding period, MDGS supplementation was profitable. Supplementation at 2 lb (DM) was more profitable than 5 lb (DM) when MDGS is above $265.63/ton (DM) or 85% the price of $7.50 /bu corn.

Effects Of Grazing On Nebraska Sandhills Meadow Forage Nutrient Content, Jared V. Judy, Jacki A. Musgrave, L. Aaron Stalker Stalker, Karla H. Jenkins, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Nebraska Sandhills subirrigated meadow pastures were utilized to measure the effects of grazing on forage nutrient content in summer pastures. Pre-grazed pastures had greater protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility levelsand lower neutral detergent fiber levels compared with post-grazed pastures early in the grazing season. By late July, post-grazed vs. pre-grazed pastures did not differ in in vitro dry matter digestibility and neutral detergent fiber levels. Observed results indicate the greatest differences in nutrient content between post-grazed and pre-grazed pastures occur early in the grazing season.

Differences In Fecal Bacterial Community Composition Between Beef Steers Which Are High-Shedders And Low-Shedders Of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli (Stec), Nirosh D. Aluthge, Yoshitha A. Wanniarachchi, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Samodha C. Fernando

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The community composition of the fecal microbiota was compared between beef steers which were high-shedders and low-shedders of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Based on Shannon and Chao 1 diversity indices, the high-shedders had a more diverse fecal bacterial community than the low-shedding steers. Members of the genus Prevotella were observed as being more abundant in the low-shedders compared to the high-shedders, while Succinivibrio were more abundant in the high-shedders. Isolation of specific bacteria which are significantly more abundant in low-shedders may pave the way to developing direct-fed microbials which are effective in reducing STEC shedding among high-shedding beef steers.

Effect Of Beef Heifer Development System On Adg, Reproduction, And Feed Efficiency During First Pregnancy, Adam F. Summers, T. L. Meyer, Stetson P. Weber Weber, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This study evaluated the effect of post-weaning development system on heifer ADG, reproductive performance, and subsequent feed efficiency as a pregnant heifer. Heifers were developed on dormant pasture and grazed corn residue or dormant pasture and placed in a drylot. The following winter, a subset of pregnant heifers were placed in a Calan Broadbent individual feeding system during late gestation. Drylot-developed heifers had greater BW from pre-breeding through pregnancy diagnosis and greater overall ADG during development. However, there was no difference in reproductive performance. Pre-calving BW, ADG, and G:F tended to be greater for drylot heifers. Heifers developed on corn …

Heifers With Low Antral Follicle Counts Have Low Birth Weights And Produce Progeny With Low Birth Weights, Adam F. Summers, Robert A. Cushman, Karl Moline Moline, Jeff Bergman, Andrea S. Cupp

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

To determine the relationship of antral follicle count and heifer BW, reproductive tract characteristics, and first-calf performance, Red Angus-composite heifers were used over three years. High antral follicle count heifers had greater BW from birth through pre-breeding. Progeny birth BW was greater for calves born to high antral follicle count heifers compared to low antral follicle count heifers. Taken together these data indicate a relationship between antral follicle counts and BW through the first breeding season and corresponding progeny, and continues to support a possible link between genes that influence growth and development and establishment of ovarian reserve.

Effect Of Two Estrus Synchronization Protocols On Reproductive Performance Of May Calving Cows, John D. Harms, Adam F. Summers, Jacqueline Musgrave Musgrave, Rick Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of fixed-time AI utilizing one of two estrus synchronization protocols, CO-Synch or CO-Synch + CIDR, in May-calving cows. Cows synchronized with the CO-Synch + CIDR protocol had increased AI and overall pregnancy rates compared to cows synchronized utilizing the CO-Synch protocol. Due to increased AI pregnancy rates, CO-Synch + CIDR cows calved earlier, resulting in a greater proportion of cows calving within the first 21 days of the calving season compared to CO-Synch cows.

Efficacy Of Newborn Bovine Dna Samples Taken Via Different Mediums In Assigning Paternity, Jeremy T. Howard, Lynsey K. Whitacre, Matthew L. Spangler Spangler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

DNA samples from 25 newborn calves taken via hair, ear notch, and nasal swabs were used to determine the efficacy of sampling method in assigning parentage. Nasal swab samples were collected at six time points from birth to 120 hours post-birth. Calf samples and all candidate sires were genotyped with a 99 SNP parentage panel. Nasal swab collection time did not result in significant differences in the ability to assign the correct sire, although differences were seen in apparent cleanliness of the sample. Clean nasal swab samples are comparable in efficacy to hair and ear notch samples in assigning parentage.

Effect Of Winter Supplementation Level On Yearling System Profitability, Kari L. Gillespie, Brandon L. Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider Schneider, Terry J. Klopfenstein

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Calves backgrounded in a forage-based system at a high winter supple- mentation level maintained a performance advantage through finishing. High level supplemented cattle gained an additional 0.2 lb. daily during finishing, consumed less total feed in the feedlot, required fewer days on feed to reach a common finish point and produced an additional 85 lb. of saleable live weight compared to cattle backgrounded at a low supplementation level. High level supplemented cattle returned $56.01 more than cattle fed a low level of supplementation during the winter backgrounding phase.

Applying Corn Condensed Distillers Solubles To Hay Windrows Prior To Baling: Ii. Effects On Growing Cattle Performance, Jason M. Warner, Cody J. Schneider, Richard J. Rasby Rasby, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Mark Dragastin

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two experiments evaluated the feeding value of grass hay bales previously treated with CCDS in growing cattle diets. In Experiment 1, heifers fed bales treated with 20% CCDS (DM) gained less than those fed an equal level of dried distillers grains plus solubles and nontreated hay. In Experiment 2, ADG and F:G linearly improved with increasing CCDS levels. Furthermore, supplementing cattle to meet metabolizable protein requirements when fed diets of CCDS and hay did not improve ADG at levels greater than 15% CCDS. Data indicate hay bales previously treated with CCDS are adequate for use in growing diets, confirming that …

Field Peas As A Binder For Dried Distillers Grains-Based Range Cubes, Alex H. Titlow, Jacob A. Hansen, Matt K. Luebbe Luebbe, Karla Jenkins

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A grazing study was conducted to determineif field peas are a good naturalbinder for dried distillers grains-based range cubes. Cattle supplemented dried distillers grains in the bunk or a 25% field pea/75% distillers grains cube fed on the ground gained similarly and outgained cattle supplemented dried distillers on the ground. A 25.6% loss of the distillers grains fed loose on the ground was estimated. The similar performance of cattle fed distillers grains in the bunk and those fed pea/distillers cube on the ground suggests field peas reduced distillers grains loss and therefore are an acceptable binder for distillers grains based …

Economic Analysis Update: Supplementing Distillers Grains To Grazing Yearling Steers, Stephanie K. Moore, Andrea K. Watson, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Walter H. Schacht

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A seven-year study from 2005-2011 was conducted to evaluate four grazing management strategies for backgrounding yearling steers on smooth bromegrass pastures. Economic budgets were used to calculate profit differences with current (April 2012) market prices. Overall, cattle receiving supplement had greater net returns, lower cost of gain, and lower breakeven prices. In recent years fertilizer prices have increased at a greater rate than land costs in Nebraska, making it more economical to use a lower stocking rate instead of fertilizing pastures. As land prices increase, the incentive to use either N fertilizer or DDGS supplementation increases.

Corn Residue Removal Effects On Subsequent Yield, Brian J. Wienhold, Gary E. Varvel, Virginia L. Jin Jin, Rob B. Mitchell, Kenneth P. Vogel

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Corn residue is used for forage and feed, but residue removal effects on soil properties and yield is a concern. Residue removal effects on corn yields and soil organic carbon is site specific. Removing 50% of the residue from rain fed sites reduced corn yield by 1.9 bu/ac, whereas removing 40% of the residue from irrigated sites increased corn yield by 15.4 bu/ac. However, removing 53% of the residue increased soil erosion by 30%. Agronomic practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops, or manure may offset residue removal impacts. Residue removal should be based on site-specific characteristics and management, but …

Nitrogen Fertilization And Ddgs Supplementation Reduces Annual Weeds In Pastures, John A. Guretzky, Laura K. Snell, John C. Soper Soper, Walter H. Schacht, Terry Klopfenstein, Stephanie K. Pruitt

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Ongoing research has found body weight (BW) gains of steers supplemented with corn dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) on unfertilized smooth bromegrass pasture (SUPP) to be greater than unsupplemented steers on N fertilized (FERT) and unfertilized, control (CONT) smooth bromegrass pasture. In the seventh year of the study, annual weeds increased to 20%, 9%, and 2% of relative cover within CONT, SUPP, and FERT pastures, respectively. Supplementation of DDGS on unfertilized pastures improves steer BW gains and reduces N inputs while providing intermediate resistance to annual weed invasion. AnnualN fertilization maximizes forage yield and minimizes annual weeds in pasture.

Replacing Steam-Flaked Corn And Dry Rolled Corn With Condensed Distillers Solubles In Finishing Diets, Alex H. Titlow, Adam L. Shreck, Stephanie A. Furman Furman, Karla Jenkins, Matt K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The interaction between corn processing method and condensed distillers solubles (CDS) was evaluated using either steam-flaked corn (SFC) or dry rolled corn (DRC). As CDS replaced corn at either 15 or 30% of the diet DM, DMI intake decreased quadratically for both SFC and DRC. Within DRC- based diets, ADG increased quadratically with 15% CDS being greatest and F:G improved quadratically with 30% inclusion being best. When SFC was used as the grain source, ADG increased linearly and F:G improved quadratically with increasing levels of CDS. A greater performance response was observed with SFC compared to DRC when feeding increased …

Effects Of Feeding Microbial Feed Additives On Growth Performance And Carcass Traits Of Steers Fed Steam-Flaked Corn-Based Diets With Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles, Matt K. Luebbe, Karla H. Jenkins, Stephanie A. Furman Furman, Kelly K. Kreikemeier

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding two commercially available direct-fed microbials (DFM) on finishing steer performance fed steam-flaked corn based diets. Dietary treatments included a control diet without DFM, and two commercially available products (10-G and Bovamine). No significant differences were observed among treatments for animal performance or carcass characteristics. However, numeric advantages were observed for ADG and feed efficiency when cattle were fed a DFM.

The Effect Of Lameness On Average Daily Gain In Feedlot Steers, Giselle T. Kruse, Richard R. Randle, Douglas E. Hostetler Hostetler, Gary K. Tibbetts, Dicky D. Griffin, Kathryn J. Hanford, Terry Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Brandon L. Nuttelman, David R. Smith

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this study was to test the effects of lameness on average daily gain (ADG) of feedlot steers. We evaluated two feedlot health data sets: 1) 14,798 steers from a 14-year period (1993 to 2006) at the Meat Animal Research Center (USDA MARC) near Clay Center, Neb.; and 2) 16,766 steers from an 8-year period (2002 to 2009) at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center (ARDC) near Mead, Neb. The ADG for USDA MARC steers with lameness late in the feeding period (≥ 60 days) was 0.04 lb./day less than steers without lameness. The ADG …

Including Next Enhance® Essential Oils In Finishing Diets On Performance With Or Without Rumensin® And Tylan®, Curtis J. Bittner, Galen E. Erickson, Karla Jenkins Jenkins, Matt K. Luebbe, Troy Wistuba

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Finishing cattle performance was evaluated using NEXT ENHANCE essential oils in finishing diets. Treatments consisted of 1) control (CON), 2) NEXT ENHANCE at 300 mg/day (NE), 3) Rumensin and Tylan at 360 and 90 mg/day, respectively (RT), or 4) NEXT ENHANCE plus Rumensin and Tylan (NERT). No NEXT ENHANCE by Rumensin/Tylan interaction was observed. Steers fed Rumensin/Tylan had decreased F:G and increased live final BW and marbling score. The prevalence of liver abscesses decreased 46% when steers were fed Rumensin/Tylan. Including NEXT ENHANCE in finishing diets did not impact performance or carcass characteristics.

The Effect Of Commensal Microbial Communities On The Fecal Shedding Of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. Coli (Stec) In Beef Cattle, Nirosh D. Aluthge, Yoshitha A. Wanniarachchi, Brandon L. Nuttelman Nuttelman, Cody J. Schneider, Terry Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Jayne E. Stratton, Samodha C. Fernando

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

This ongoing study compares the gut microbial community composition between shedding steers high in shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) counts and low-shedding steers. Shedders were identified among 170 beef animals over three time periods using selective microbiological culture media. The isolated bacterial cultures were confirmed to be STEC using PCR, 16s rRNA sequencing and a shiga toxin immunoassay. The most abundant strains found in the cattle feces were those belonging to the serogroups O111 (40.3%) and O157:H7 (37.3%), with O103 (8.3%), O26 (6.0%), O83 (4.5%), and O55 (3.0%) being detected in much lower numbers . Out of the 52 animals …

Hormonal Residues In Feedlot Pens And Runoff, Terry L. Mader, Leslie J. Johnson, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, William L. Kranz, Charles A. Shapiro, Simon Van Donk, David P. Shelton, David Tarkalson, Tian Zhang

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Two identically designed trials were conducted in separate years at the University of Nebraska Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, Concord, Neb., using 192 crossbred heifers (96/trial). Within a trial, heifers were assigned randomly to 2 groups (3 pens/group): 1) treatment (TRT) animals were administered synthetic hormones via subcutaneous implants (Ralgro and Revalor-H) and fed Melengesterol Acetate (MGA), or 2) control (CON) animals with no synthetic hormone provided.

Gains and feed conversions were 18.8 and 7.5% better, respectively, for TRT, while CON had 16.7% greater choice and prime carcasses. In runoff samples, progesterone was greater for CON. With the exception of androsterone, average …

Anaerobic Digestion Of Finishing Cattle Manure, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson, Terry Klopfenstein Klopfenstein, Samodha C. Fernando, Jana L. Harding

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Utilizing manure from cattle fed distillers grains in anaerobic digesters improved methane production and DM degradation of manure compared to manure from cattle fed no distillers grains. Manure from cattle fed in open lot pens had soil contamination which decreased OM content and led to decreased total methane production (L/day), but not when expressed as methane/g OM. If ash buildup is avoided, open lot manure can be used as anaerobic digester feedstock.

Effect Of Development System On Heifer Performance And Primiparous Heifer Grazing Behavior, Adam F. Summers, T. L. Meyer, Jacqueline Musgrave Musgrave, Stetson P. Weber, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The effect of heifer development system on primiparous heifer performance grazing corn residue during late gestation was investigated. Weaned heifers grazing corn residue tended to have reduced final BW after corn residue grazing compared to heifers grazing winter range. However reproductive performance for the two treatments was similar. When grazing corn residue as pregnant heifers during late gestation, heifers developed on corn residue had improved ADG compared to drylot-developed heifers and tended to have increased ADG compared to winter range-developed heifers. Adaptation to corn residue grazing as a developing heifer improves primiparous heifer performance grazing corn residue during late gestation.

Effects Of Feeding 44 G/Ton Rumensin® During Grain Adaptation On Animal Performance And Carcass Characteristics, Cody J. Schneider, Matt K. Luebbe, Karla Jenkins Jenkins, Stephanie A. Furman, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cattle were adapted to a finishing diet over 20 days while feeding 33 or 44 g/ton (DM) of Rumensin. Following grain adaptation, all cattle were fed a common finishing diet containing 33 g/ton Rumensin for the remainder of the feeding period. Feeding 44 g/ton of Rumensin during the adaptation period did not affect performance during the adaptation period or over the entire feeding period when compared to the 33 g/ton adaptation level.

Evaluation Of A New Chemistry For Rangeland Grasshopper Control, Jeffrey Bradshaw, Karla Jenkins, Sean Doyle Whipple Whipple, Rick Patrick

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A grasshopper control study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a new class of systemic chemical. The new pesticide Prevathon^® (high and low levels) was compared to Coragen^®, Dimilin^®, and a nontreated check. Grasshoppers were numerically reduced the most by Coragen and Prevathon, though not significant. The highest level of Prevathon did not numerically impact beneficial insects in general. Biomass and forage quality were not significantly impacted by chemical treatment. However, forage biomass was numericallygreatest for the highest level of Prevathon. Prevathon appears to be an acceptable systemic pesticide for grasshopper control with minimal …

Determination Of Farm-Specific Lawsonia Intracellularis Seroprevalence In Central Kentucky Thoroughbreds And The Identification Of Factors Contributing To Equine Proliferative Enteropathy, Allen E. Page

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Lawsonia intracellularis and the disease it causes in horses, equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), is an emerging pathogen of increasing importance to the horse industry from both an economic and welfare standpoint. Long recognized as an economically important disease of swine, the hallmark of EPE is a protein-losing enteropathy, where affected horses suffer weight loss and some ultimately succumb to the disease despite aggressive treatment. There are currently no known EPE preventative measures and the epidemiology of the disease remains poorly defined. While EPE is a sporadic disease affecting less than 25% of exposed horses, some farms experience clinical cases year …

Surveillance Of Selected Diseases In Free-Ranging Elk (Cervus Elaphus Nelsoni) In Nebraska, 1995-2009, Michael A. Cover, Scott E. Hygnstrom, David W. Oates, Kit M. Hams, Kurt C. Vercauteren

Great Plains Research: A Journal of Natural and Social Sciences (through 2013)

Sera samples were collected from 21 free-ranging, captured female elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) in 1995- 96, and tissue and sera samples were collected from 415 hunter-harvested elk from 1995 to 2006 and tested for selected diseases. Titers for Anaplasma marginale were detected in 81 of 436 (19%) elk. Occurrence of antibodies to anaplasmosis increased from 4 to 40 elk from 2002 to 2006. Titers for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) were detected in 18 of 346 (5%) samples. Titers for Leptospira interrogans serovars were detected in 21 of 289 (7%) of samples from 1995 to 2004. Titers for …

2011 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Cow/Calf

• Winter Grazing System and Supplementation of Beef Cows During Late Gestation Influence Heifer Progeny
• Influencing Steer Performance Through Maternal Nutrition
• Integration of DNA Marker Information into Breeding Value Predictions
• Granulosa Cell Gene Expression is Altered in Follicles from Cows with Differing Reproductive Longevity

Growing

• Performance of Growing Cattle Fed Corn Silage or Grazing Corn Residue from Second Generation Insect-protected (MON 89034), Parental, or Reference Corn Hybrids
• Nutrient Composition of Spoiled Wet Byproducts Mixed and Stored with Straw
• Use of Dry Rolled Corn, Dry or Wet distillers Grains Plus Solubles as an Energy Source in High Forage Diets for Growing …